Exposure capsule handling device



April 13, 1954 P. o\ SCHALLERT ETAL EXPOSURE *CAPSULE HANDLING DEVICE IFiled J}ily 10. 1947 a wue/wtow Edward R. 76mpkins,

Myron B. Hawkins & Paul 0. Scha/ler-Z Patented Apr. 13, 1954EXPOSURE-CAPSULE HANDLING DEVICE Paul 0. Schallert, Edward R. Tompkins,and Myron B. Hawkins, Oak Ridge, Tcnn., assignors to the United Statesof America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy CommissionApplication July 10, 1947, Serial No. 760,070

4 Claims. (Cl. 250-108) This invention is concerned with the handling ofradioactive materials, having primarily to do with devices andtechniques so contrived as to protect personnel from the destructiveradiations from the radioactive material.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a readilytransportable shielded container for capsules or cartridges ofradioactive material, the container embodying shielding material such aslead which surrounds the capsule or cartridge of radioactive material onall sides.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in associationwith the container for grasping and removing the cartridge from thecontainer, the said device itself embodying shielding to protect theoperator during the time that the cartridge is being removed Or adjustedin position. A further object of the invention is to provide inassociation with the container as described a cutter whereby theenvelope of the capsule or cartridge may be mechanically cut or openedwhile the cartridge is within the container for emptying the contents ofthe cartridge and allowing the contents to be discharged from thecontainer into a reactor unit.

Further objects and numerous of the advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description and the annexeddrawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of the shielded container including itsremovable base portion.

Fig, 2 is a cross section of the container with the base portionremoved, the container resting upon the reactor unit, and having thecartridge removal device in position.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the cartridge container or carrieris indicated by numeral 30, the container embodying a lead body having acentral bore I therein and a counterbore 2. The entire container issheathed in a steel casing 3. The bore I0 and counterbore 2 are linedwith a lining of suitable material as indicated at 3|. The cartridge, orcapsule, containing the radioactive material, which may pref erably bein the form of powder, is indicated by numeral l and is positioned inthe central bore of the carrier. The cartridge is in cylindrical formcomprising an envelope of sheet material such as foil having thepowdered radioactive charge material therein. At the upper end of thecartridge I, it is slightly enlarged as shown, that is, the diameter atthe upper end is slightly larger than that of the central bore 10.

The container has a lead base 4 of the same transverse dimension, thebase being similarly sheathed in a steel casing 32. The base is fastenedto the carrier by means of support arms 5 extending upwardly therefrom,these arms being attached to the casing of the carrier itself by meansof cap screws 6. Centrally of the upper part of the base 4 is a raisedconical portion 1 which fits into a corresponding conical recess in thecarrier 30 to eliminate any straight line of egress for emittedradiations. The lead base has a central bore 33 in the conical portion'1 which registers with the central bore I0 in the carrier 30, as shown.

Numeral 8 designates a lead plug with a removal handle 9 which fits intothe counterbore 2, as shown. The lower end of plug 8 is recessed, asshown, so that the recess forms a space between the end of the plug andthe enlarged upper end of the cartridge l. The plug 8 may be secured inplace by means of a locking bar ll hinged on a pin 12 extending throughhinge bracket 34. The locking bar II has a slotted opening 35 thereinwhich fits over the removal handle 9, and the locking bar may be clampedin place by means of a wing nut [33 engaging with an eye bolt 36 pivotedto another bracket 3'! on the side of the carrier 30.

With the apparatus assembled in the manner described above, adequatelead shielding is provided completely surrounding the capsule orcartridge, and the device with the cartridge contained therein may betransferred or transported as desired in safety.

The container with the cartridge therein may, for example, betransported to a reactor unit for chemical processing of the chargematerial contained in the cartridge.

Fig. 2 shows the container with its lead base removed and placed on areceiver i4 mounted on the shielding I5 of a reactor unit in which thecharge material is to be processed, the reactor unit having a deliverytube I 6 extending upwardly through the shielding thereof through whichthe contents of the cartridge are discharged into the unit, as will bedescribed. The receiver I4 comprises a steel base 38 having a centrallead cone I 1 of a size and shape to fit into the conical recess in thelower part of the shielding of the carrier 39, the central lead cone I!having a central bore 39 which registers with the bore [0 in the carrier30. The receiver has upstanding arms or brackets 40 which are attachedto the casing of the carrier 30 by cap screws 4|, as shown. Numeral l8designates a nozzle on the end of a water supply tube 42, the nozzlebeing disposed in the bore 39 of the conical portion ll of the receiverM for purposes which will be described presently. Tube l6 communicateswith bore 39 as shown.

In Fig. 2 the locking bar II is shown released and in a lifted positionand the lead plug 8 has been removed from the container and replaced byan assembly of parts for gripping and removing the capsule or cartridgeThe cartridge removal assembly comprises an outer sleeve l9 which fitsinto the counterbore 2 and'which has arms 24 for rotating it or holdingit against rotation. At its lower end the sleeve I 9 has its inner edgesbeveled, as shown, for purposes which will be described. Near the upperpart of sleeve l9 it has an annular groove 25 forming a locking groovein which a latch 26 may engage as shown to hold the sleeve IS inposition. The latch 25 has a slot therein through which extends a capscrew 43 by means of which the latch can be secured in position. Withinthe sleeve I9 is a cylindrical member 28 which engages in screw threadedrelationship with another sleeve member 2| fitting within the sleeve I9,as shown, the sleeve 2| being filled with lead shielding material for aconsiderable extent at its upper part, as shown, and being rotatable bymeans of arms 23. The cylinder 20 is flared at its lower end, the flaredportion matching or mating with the internal bevel at the lower end ofthe sleeve l9, the material at the lower end of cylinder 26 beingslightly compressible, as will be described. Adjacent the upper end ofthe sleeve 2| there is attached thereto a ring 22 against which theupper end of sleeve l9 bears, forming a thrust hearing, which willpresently be described. The internal diameter of the cylinder 20 is suchas to snugly fit over the enlarged top portion of the cartridge I, whenthe cartridge removal assembly is lowered into the counterbore 2, thelatch 2'6 being moved to the right at this time. When the removalassembly is in its lowermost position, the cartridge is in a positionpartly in the central bore ID of the carrier 30 and partly in the bore39 in the conical raised portion ll of receiver I4, its positionrelative to the carrier 39 then being identical with that shown in Fig.1.

In order to cause the cartridge removal assembly to grasp the top of thecartridge, the sleeve 2| is rotated by arms 23 when the assembly is inits lowermost position and, as a result, the cylinder 20 tends to bedrawn upwardly by virtue of its screw threaded relationship with thesleeve 2|. Relative longitudinal motion between the sleeves 2| and I9 isprevented by the thrust bearing 22. The lower beveled end of the sleeve|9 thus exerts a thrust on the lower flared end portion of the cylinder29 tending to compress the lower end of the cylinder inwardlysufliciently to grasp the enlarged top of the cartridge and to firmlyhold it. The cartridge removal assembly may then be lifted to theposition shown in Fig. 2 and latched in that position by means of latch26 engaging in the annular groove 25 in sleeve I9.

The carrier embodies a cutter mechanism for opening the envelope of thecartridge of charge material so that the contents thereof may bedischarged therefrom and caused to be delivered into the interior of thereactor unit. Numeral 28 designates a cutter positioning rod which isdisposed in a horizontal bore in the lower part of the carrier 30, andthis bore communicates with the central bore l0. At the end of the rod28 is a cutter 21 which may be in the form of a small wheel having acontinuous knife edge around its periphery pivoted in a slot at the endof the rod 28. The rod 28 is attached by cap screw 29 to a plate 44 onthe outside of the carrier 30 and by adjusting the cap screw 29 the rod28 can be advanced or retracted so as to position the cutter 21 to makea cut of the desired depth in the end of the cartridge l. The cutter 2!engages the cartridge at the lower end of the cartridge when it is inthe position shown in Fig. 2 so that with the parts in this position ifthe cartridge removal assembly is rotated by means of arms 24 the blade21 will cut ofi the end of the cartridge allowing the contents to dropdown into the bore in the conical portion I! of receiver [4, thematerial continuing through the tube l6 into the reactor unit. In orderto remove any particles of radioactive material that may remain in thecartridge or capsule, latch 26 is disengaged and the cartridge removalassembly is lowered to the base of counterbore 2 so that the lower endof the cartridge is over the nozzle l8. A jet of water is then injectedinto the cartridge to remove any remaining particles of the material.

When the radioactive material has been removed from the carrier 30, itcan, of course, be detached from the reactor unit and transported awayfor bringing another capsule of material. That is, the base 4 may bere-attached to the carrier and the cartridge removal assembly removedand plug 8 re-inserted in position.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe that we haveprovided effective means for safely transporting unit charges ofradioactive material in a manner to fully protect personnel from theemanations therefrom. The arrangement provides apparatus for efiectivelyhandling the capsules and for discharging the radioactive material intothe reactor unit without the necessity of exposing the operator oroperators in any way to the emanations therefrom.

Our invention comprehends variations in form and structure which it isintended shall fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.Various alternative forms of devices, that is, equivalents, may besubstituted for the one shown for grasping or gripping the cartridge forlifting it and removing it. Similarly the cutter mechanism may takealternative forms such as have to do with the particular shape of theblade, the particular manner of regulating the advancing and retractingof the blade and the manner of producing the motion necessary so as tocut off the end of the cartridge. All of these alternatives and variousother equivalents such as may be practiced by those skilled in the artare deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of applicants inventionand to come within the meaning of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a carrier for transporting radioactive materials, in combination,a body of shielding material having a bore therein adapted to receive acapsule of radioactive material, and a device arranged to fit into saidbore and having a resilient end portion shaped to fit over the end ofthe capsule and manually operable means for compressing said endportion, whereby the capsule may be withdrawn from the bore by saiddevice, and a mechanical latch for latching said device to said body ina predetermined lifted position of the device.

2. In a carrier for transporting radioactive materials, in combination,a body of shielding material having a. bore therein adapted to receive acapsule of radioactiv material, and a device arranged to fit into saidbore and having a resilient end portion shaped to fit over the end ofthe capsule and manually operable means for compressing said endportion, whereby the capsule may be withdrawn from the bore by saiddevice, and an adjustable cutter member disposed in an opening in saidbody communicating with said bore, th cutter member being engageablewith said capsule whereby upon relative rotation as between the cuttermember and the capsule its end may be cut off by the cutter member.

3. In a carriei for transporting radioactive materials, in combination,a body of shielding material having a bore therein adapted to receive acapsule of radioactive material, and a devic arranged to fit into saidbore and having a resilient end portion shaped to fit over the end ofthe capsule and manually operable means for compressing said endportions, whereby the capsule may be withdrawn from the bore by saiddevice, said device comprising concentric sleeves, one within the other,the inner sleev having a rib formed thereon adapting the inner sleeve tobe contracted by pressure of the outer sleeve on said rib, and amechanical latch for latching said device to said body in apredetermined lifted position of the device.

4. In a carrier for transporting radioactive materials, in combination,a body of shielding material having a bore therein adapted to receive acapsule of radioactive material, an adjustable cutter member disposed inan opening in said body communicating with said bore, a deviceinsertable in said bore and having manually actuatable gripping elementsfor gripping and adjusting said capsule, the cutter member beingengageable with said capsule whereby upon relative rotation as betweenthe cutter member and the capsule its end may be cut off by the cuttermember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 714,989 Worthington Dec. 2, 1902 909,238 Seely Jan. 12, 1909965,054 Weekes July 19, 1910 2,322,808 Hothersall June 29, 1943

